Ankarlo’s Use of “Nigger” is Non-Offensive?

Back in April of 2008, there was a dust up between ASU and KTAR’s head-hater, Darrell Ankarlo. Supposedly there were complaints from ASU students riding the ASU shuttle claiming that KTAR contained offensive programming. According to Ankarlo, ASU banned KTAR from their buses and this forced Ankarlo into becoming even more of a drama queen than usual.

He took his show to ASU and ranted and raved the entire program. He faked a station shut down while he was on air and he showed off his reading skills by reading the US Constitution. His show “is about saving America”, he claimed. It seems to me that most of his ranting was against people who didn’t have the same opinion that he did. Because the possibility of his show being truly offensive was “bullcrap”. So it had to be that people simply didn’t like his opinions. I’m not so sure…

I found at least a couple of instances, that I think could be considered offensive by some. This one, he uses the word “nigger” to make a point about Obama and his old preacher in Chicago (from 3-18-08):

CALLER: So if you’re saying you dont want to make this about race and you hope to God you’re not doing that, but you are doing that, Ankarlo. So you’re talking out of both sides of your mouth.

ANKARLO: Ok. So I think all niggers in this country are my enemy.

CALLER: Why are you being divisive? He rejected the kinds of words that he used. Why are you using the same words?

ANKARLO: Listen, Becky. I think they are my enemy and I think we need to defeat them all. Now, if I said that on a regular basis…if I said that at all on this show, would you listen to everything else I had to say, or would you say ‘oh, that guy’s got some real problems’?

I think one can see the point he’s stupidly trying to make. The problem is the way he made the point. Sort of similar to how a child may go about an argument. So although listeners may understand the point he’s making, it doesn’t mean it’s not offensive.